Together we are building a Greater Miami where everyone can thrive.

Video produced by Miami Senior High School students with Creative Media Group

Building a Stronger Miami

What will it take to solve Miami’s most pressing issues? All of us, together. How can we lead the nation in resilience, equity, and access to opportunity? We bring together thousands of changemakers, philanthropists, nonprofit, government, and corporate leaders to solve serious community challenges together.

With your help, The Foundation is investing in thousands of solutions that build a stronger, more equitable, more resilient Miami.

Learn More

INVESTED IN GREATER MIAMI SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN 1967

FUNDS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

DONORS SUPPORTING PROGRAMMING TO BETTER MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

What We Do

We connect people to knowledge, mobilize people to action, and solve challenges through collaboration.

We are like a
Philanthropic Bank

For almost 60 years, we’ve helped individuals, families, and businesses realize their vision for charitable giving and unlock the power of collective philanthropy.

We are a
Hub for Collaboration

As Greater Miami’s community foundation, we are uniquely positioned to build coalitions across the region’s public, private, and philanthropic sectors to create progress for our community.

We are a Center for
Leadership & Problem Solving

We invest in leaders. We connect changemakers in our community to the resources and information they need to make an impact.

How We Do It

To create a Greater Miami where everyone can thrive, we believe that we need to accelerate leadership, connection, generosity, and strength in our community.

At our Foundation, we do this in five key ways:

Develop Leaders

Collaborate on Solutions

Accelerate Generosity

Exchange Knowledge

Support Nonprofits

Our Community Priorities

We house nearly 1,000 community efforts ranging across every issue area and neighborhood. Below are some of the current priorities that our community has asked us to focus on.

Empower Youth & Families

We empower the next generation by ensuring Miami-Dade’s youth and families have equitable access to educational and developmental opportunities at school, at home, and in community.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Cava and other people packing boxes of food

Generate Prosperity

We contribute to economic mobility efforts that make Miami a place where everyone can thrive. We partner with local nonprofits, government agencies, and the business sector to invest in our local workforce, small businesses, and the overall financial health of our community.

Voting booths in Miami Dade County | Inspiring Civic Engagement | The Miami Foundation

Inspire Civic Involvement

Civically engaged communities are stronger communities. We inspire civic involvement by expanding access to critical information through investments in local news, forums, and information.

Build Climate & Disaster Resilience

In partnership with government officials and grassroots organizations, we strengthen the resiliency of our built and natural environment against hurricanes, extreme heat, and other natural and manmade disasters.

Group of people standing in front of 8th Annual State of Black Philanthropy sign

Eliminate Inequities

We ground our community in data and invest in organizations and individuals advancing equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights in our community.

Learn More About Our Community’s Priorities

We respond to our community’s evolving needs and ambitions through active, deep listening to residents, nonprofit leaders, elected officials, and passionate philanthropists. Learn more about how we’re advancing these priorities.

The Latest from The Miami Foundation

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Blog
Featured

Introducing the South Florida News Database

April 8, 2026

2025 at The Miami Foundation: A Year in Review

December 16, 2025

Feeding South Florida food distribution event in 2018.

We will not let our neighbors go hungry

November 3, 2025

Meet the newly announced Miami Fellows Class XII!

October 15, 2025

The Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation | 2025-27 CreARTE Grant Cycle is Open

Meet the 2025 Pérez CreARTE Grants Program Recipients

October 14, 2025

The Miami Fellows: Investing in Leaders Who Move Miami Forward

October 13, 2025

Sign up for The Give Miami 5K Race + Festival

August 28, 2025

Take a Peek Behind the Curtain of the Give Miami Day Registration Form

July 29, 2025

Do you know your neighborhood’s nonprofits? South Dade

July 29, 2025

Miami Fellows eating breakfast and catching up around a table.

Miami Fellows Class XII applications are now open!

July 14, 2025

Meet the 2025-27 Community Grants Partners

June 24, 2025

Five years fueled by an obsession with partnerships

June 23, 2025

The 2025 Esserman-Knight Journalism Award Winners

June 17, 2025

Where to celebrate Juneteenth across South Florida

June 9, 2025

Collage of volunteers packing emergency disaster kits.

How Disaster-Ready are Greater Miami’s Nonprofits?

May 29, 2025

Crafting Liberation by Cornelius Tulloch is a collage depicting the artist's interpretation of the Black freedom to live, to thrive, and to write the future. It features cut outs of Miami leaders, landmarks, and iconography. The main color of this piece is bright red, with yellow, gray, and green accents.

Celebrating Overtown’s nonprofit landscape

May 13, 2025

The 10th Annual State of Black Philanthropy

April 30, 2025

Moving at the Speed of Trust | 2024 Annual Report

Dive into our 2024 Annual Report

April 30, 2025

Dig In With Our Local Nonprofits For Earth Month 2025

April 4, 2025

collage of photos of people | The Miami Foundation

Inside The Miami Foundation’s Trust-Based Community-Led Community Grants Program

March 25, 2025

To Be A World-Class City, Miami Needs More World-Class Local Journalism | Opinion

March 13, 2025

The Miami Foundation is Delighted to Welcome Erin Knight as Our New Board Chair!

February 13, 2025

A Fond, and Far-from-Final, Farewell to Board Chair Sheldon Anderson

February 11, 2025

Two people holding up The Miami Foundation Disaster Readiness Kits

2024 in Review: Disaster Resilience

December 23, 2024

2024 at The Miami Foundation: A Year in Review

December 20, 2024

2024 in Review: Miami Connected

December 18, 2024

2024 in Review: Vote Miami

December 18, 2024

The Miami Foundation Miami Open for Business Supported by Wells Fargo

2024 in Review: Miami Open for Business

December 17, 2024

Building home away from home – redefining civic engagement

October 28, 2024

Press Forward in Year 1: taking bold action and bravely leading the way

September 23, 2024

The climate is changing – Can we change how we insure against disasters?

September 10, 2024

Steering toward Sustainability

July 23, 2024

Hey Miami – It’s Time to Turn Up… and Vote!

June 24, 2024

Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month

Honoring Dr. Guerda Nicolas and Mauricio Vivero

June 13, 2024

Four steps toward racial equity after the Fearless Fund court decision

June 13, 2024

Hurricane Preparedness Requires a Wider Aperture in Greater Miami

May 24, 2024

Landscape with palm trees and the ocean.

Understanding Present-Day Haiti through a historic lens

May 3, 2024

Connecting the Dots

May 3, 2024

Happy Earth Month! Celebrating some of Miami's Environmental Champions

Happy Earth Day: Celebrating Some of Miami’s Environmental Champions

April 22, 2024

Group of people celebrating national volunteer month

Celebrating National Volunteer Month: Let’s Build A Greater Miami Together!

April 3, 2024

Miami Open for Business with Tamara Taitt

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: MAGNOLIA BIRTHING HOUSE

February 29, 2024

Miami Open for Business with Experience Aviation and The Flying Classroom

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: EXPERIENCE AVIATION, FLYING CLASSROOM AND DESIGNS BY SOMMER

February 29, 2024

Miami Open For Business with Ultrina Harris

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: ULTRINA HARRIS

February 29, 2024

Leap into Generosity: Building a Greater Miami Together

February 27, 2024

Miami Open for Business with Stephen Gilmore

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: STEPHEN GILMORE

February 22, 2024

Leaning into Leadership in 2024

February 8, 2024

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO CREO PROGRAM THIS FINAL YEAR

January 23, 2024

Spotlight on the Collective Real Estate Ownership Program

November 27, 2023

Data sheets, glasses, a notebook, and magnifying glass

Why Does The Miami Foundation Collect Demographic Data?

October 5, 2023

Introducing Press Forward, a national effort to revitalize local news

September 6, 2023

Miami Open for Business with Gina Delice

MIAMI OPEN FOR BUSINESS ABLE LOAN, WHY SHOULD I APPLY?

July 28, 2023

An Exchange for Change program participant takes the stage at the Miami Book Fair

Celebrating our Miami nonprofits and our 2023 Community Grants recipients!

June 15, 2023

SMALL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT: THE OPA LOCKA FLEA MARKET

May 15, 2023

You Spoke, We Listened! New Miami Open for Business Program Updates

March 27, 2023

The Community Grants proposal phase has officially closed… Whats Next?

March 21, 2023

The Power of General Operating, Multi-Year Grants

January 23, 2023

People with large rainbow flag on Miami Beach | LGBTQ+ rights are human rights

LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and in October we remember the long road traveled

October 10, 2022

People standing along street to support those affected by hurricane

Join us in supporting those affected by recent Hurricanes

October 3, 2022

Music Access Miami Mini & Momentum Grant Announcement

September 27, 2022

A Time To Boldly Go Forward

July 28, 2022

Photo of the Surfside Wall of Hope and Memorial featuring photos of the collapse victims, flowers, and cards.

Support Surfside – 1 Year Anniversary

June 24, 2022

Woman with microphone holding pamphlet next to man outside of a passenger van

Racial Equity Fund’s new awards invest in social justice change and healing trauma

June 16, 2022

We’re Listening, Miami

March 1, 2022

Collaboration: It’s a Vibe

January 20, 2022

Editor’s Note: The Miami Foundation’s Emerging Philanthropist Award annually celebrates a 40-or-under donor who uses charitable giving to drive measurable results around a local cause, broadly improve the lives of Greater Miamians, and encourage others to give. We are pleased to name Quinn Smith as our 2021 honoree! Below are his remarks given at the PhilanthropyMiami Donor Next Door luncheon where he accepted the award.

Attorney and Community Leader Named “Emerging Philanthropist” of the Year

December 17, 2021

advice for anyone considering to move to the Sunshine State

November 30, 2021

$3.2 million in new funding for the arts from the Pérez Family Foundation

November 1, 2021

Together in Music: 2021 Music Access Miami Mini Grant Recipients

September 8, 2021

The Miami Foundation received a record 284 applications from nonprofits interested in funding from The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation’s CreARTE Grant Program. The effort will invest over $1.5 million in Miami-Dade organizations working to cultivate this ecosystem by expanding residents’ access to the arts and making our city a global hub for artistic excellence.

2021-2022 CREARTE | Q&A WITH BELISSA AND JORGE

July 14, 2021

How do we maintain the urgency for racial equity and justice issues to stay visible, to make funding for change led by communities of color more accessible, and build staying power for those tackling the systemic roots?

THE RACIAL EQUITY FUND AT YEAR ONE: POWERING AND UPLIFTING CHANGE

June 17, 2021

After two years of research, outreach, and listening, Labor Miami emerges.

A MIAMI THAT WORKS FOR ALL

June 14, 2021

Miami Connected is a public-private partnership, led by The Miami Foundation and Achieve Miami, which seeks to make Miami the most technologically inclusive community in the nation by bridging the digital divide and providing educational and economic development opportunities for all residents of Greater Miami.

Q&A WITH BLACKSTONE, A NEW MIAMI CONNECTED PARTNER

June 8, 2021

One year in – Lessons in Philanthropy, Community, and Leadership

May 28, 2021

Artists and organizations have long played a critical role in catalyzing change around the most pressing issues throughout our community. They are organizers, conveners, and truth-tellers, using their platforms to illuminate, cultivate understanding, and breathe empathy. Too often, however, they operate under-resourced and overworked, a reality that is augmented for organizations and artists of color and that has been further exacerbated since the outbreak of COVID-19.

I,TOO: RACIAL EQUITY THROUGH ARTS

April 19, 2021

A reflective piece that draws in Kunya’s personal experience as an artist and arts leader and the first step towards building community through the arts.

IN PURSUIT OF MUSIC AND ARTS ACCESS FOR ALL

March 30, 2021

Before reading my thoughts on Anti-Asian violence, I encourage you to read the words of the Asian American Leaders Table.In the first two months of 2021, Asian Americans reported being targeted more than 500 times according to Stop AAPI Hate. Five. Hundred. Times.

WE MUST CONFRONT OUR HISTORY OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE

March 19, 2021

It is no secret that our local nonprofits are consistently stepping up to support our community, and we at The Miami Foundation are lucky enough to get a front-row seat to witness it, particularly through the work of our Community Grants award winners each year.

Community Grants Q&A with DMF Employment Opportunities

February 12, 2021

Through this year’s Community Grants ‘Sustainable Environment’ category, The Miami Foundation aims to fund solutions to the environmental concerns our community faces – and in particular, those that are affecting our most vulnerable populations.

Community Grants Q&A with Miami Waterkeeper

February 10, 2021

Community Grants Q&A with Catholic Legal Services

February 4, 2021

The Miami Foundation is excited to share our revised Community Grants program with you. We have listened and learned with community members, nonprofit organizations, and local leaders to guide these updates that seek to serve you better.

A NEW APPROACH TO COMMUNITY GRANTS – HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

January 28, 2021

The new year has profoundly renewed the Foundation’s conviction and energy to build on the momentum and lessons of 2020, a year of relentless challenges and social reckoning.

REIMAGINING COMMUNITY GRANTS TOGETHER IN 2021

January 25, 2021

Only a few months into 2020 it became clear that our community was bracing for a year like no other. As schools, restaurants, parks, and shops closed down, the ripple effect of lost income and strained families came to a boiling point.

$11.3 MILLION GRANTED TO SUPPORT SMALL MIAMI-DADE NONPROFITS

January 21, 2021

Necessity truly is a mother of innovation. Arts were one of the hardest hit industries in the face of COVID-19, and the restrictions for live events forced a new kind of creativity. Considering the tremendous footprint arts have in Miami, the health of our artists and arts institutions reach every facet of our community, from our economy to our well-being.

HOW CULTURE SAFELY LIT UP THE MAGIC CITY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

January 20, 2021

Year-end estate planning is a very heated topic, primarily because of possible tax law changes that could be introduced in 2021 or in the next few years. Currently, many incentives exist for individuals. With the prospect of potential changes, we advise them to consider their personal situation, the planning already done, and explore immediate planning strategies they could implement under the current law.

YEAR-END FINANCIAL PLANNING IN AN UNCERTAIN CONTEXT

December 18, 2020

As 2021 approaches, it’s hard not to wish away this past year. But even if our newsfeeds threaten to “go back to normal”, we can never unsee what we saw in 2020. We saw 100,000 students unable to attend school due to insufficient internet access.

THE LEGACY OF 2020: A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY

December 17, 2020

As we reflect on our Census 2020 experience in Miami-Dade County, there are many wins to celebrate and also much learning we must do over the next decade before we have to get counted once again in 2030.It is estimated by the Census Bureau that 99.9% of households in Florida were ultimately counted as part of Census 2020, thanks to a combination of self-responses and data collected during the door-knocking.

IS IT TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING FOR CENSUS 2030?

December 15, 2020

As we approach one of the largest charitable giving events in the Southeast U.S and the most important giving day in Greater Miami, we asked some of our sponsors to share why they will give on Give Miami Day and what causes are close to their hearts. Their generosity has helped us raise a record $1 million in bonus funding to boost donations more than ever before. On November 19, they will join residents across Miami-Dade to support nonprofits after almost a year of heroically showing up while grappling with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

MEET THE DONORS WHO MADE GIVE MIAMI DAY’S $1 MILLION BONUS POOL POSSIBLE

November 19, 2020

On Nov. 19, an upswell of giving will take over our city on Give Miami Day. Year after year, Miamians from all walks of life give to the causes that matter to them. Whether it’s through small personal gifts or major corporate donations, Give Miami Day has made philanthropy accessible to all — and anyone, no matter who they are, no matter where they come from — can answer the call to support their community.

A CALL TO MIAMI: IT’S TIME TO GIVE!

November 17, 2020

It’s election season!!! As a friendly reminder, Florida currently has more ways to edit the constitution than any other state in the union. There’s a few ways to do this, five to be exact. The majority, three of these, are implemented by legislators in Tallahassee – your state reps and senators. But two of these options are activated by citizens just like you:

BREAKING DOWN THE BALLOT: FLORIDA’S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – 2020

October 20, 2020

When the Foundation opened our annual Community Grants Program in January, no one could have imagined a global pandemic would shut down our entire community and country, triggering an unprecedented health, social and economic crisis.

BRINGING THE POWER OF MUSIC TO EVERY STUDENT

October 15, 2020

In a moment that has been marked with so much strain, our Foundation has been so moved to be able to invest heavily in our nonprofit community’s recovery. We know nonprofits are hurting. Since March, local organizations have been reporting to the Foundation the impacts COVID-19 has had on their ability to serve the community.

GRATEFUL TO STAND WITH MIAMI-DADE NONPROFITS

October 15, 2020

Our Miami-Dade nonprofits have stepped up in an unprecedented way this year. While simultaneously bearing the effects of this year’s pandemic and economic downturn, many of our nonprofit partners have been on the frontlines in helping our region’s most vulnerable weather this crisis and work towards recovery. Thank you for pouring into our community.

NONPROFITS: WHY JOIN THE GIVE MIAMI DAY MOVEMENT?

October 7, 2020

COVID-19 has laid bare the inequities that persist in our economy. From surging unemployment rates to impending evictions, small business closures and rising food insecurity, the pandemic has exacerbated the hardships marginalized communities have faced for decades, with the burden falling on women, Black Americans, and the undocumented who have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus.

BUILDING PROSPERITY INITIATIVE CONNECTS JOB SEEKERS WITH LIVING WAGE JOBS

September 30, 2020

Three years ago, on September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma lashed Miami-Dade County with sustained winds of more than 73 miles per hour and vast amounts of rain. The elements associated with the storm caused inland flooding, destroyed roofs, brought down countless trees, and caused widespread power outages throughout the county.

CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THREE YEARS POST-HURRICANE IRMA

September 10, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest public health and economic crisis I’ve dealt with in my 23 years of practice. With one COVID-19 death every 80 seconds in the U.S., we all are conscious of our mortality. Estate planning should be a priority for each person – younger or older, single or coupled, wealthy or of limited means.

Estate Planning in the COVID Era

August 31, 2020

Census door knocking is finally just now starting in South Florida because of COVID-19 risks and now our community officially has one-month less to get counted as part of Census 2020. The Commerce Department suddenly cut short the time for enumeration -- the last day to get counted is now September 30 instead of the planned October 31.

CHANGE TO CENSUS DEADLINE MAY RESULT IN HISTORIC UNDERCOUNT OF OUR COMMUNITY

August 20, 2020

As COVID-19 pandemic takes an ongoing toll on our residents and communities, getting a complete Census count is not only harder — it’s also more vital. Census data dictates how much federal funding our local governments will receive for food access programs, affordable housing, health systems, early childhood education and more.

CENSUS-DRIVEN DOLLARS ARE CRITICAL TO MIAMI-DADE’S FUTURE

July 23, 2020

For the past 15 years, The Miami Foundation has been grateful to partner with the National LGBTQ Task Force to provide grants that strengthen the LGBTQ community in our region. The Task Force, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ advocacy group, has donated a portion of the proceeds from its annual Gala Miami and Winter Party Festival back to the Greater Miami community, making it the only national organization to do so. More than $3.3 million has been donated to the Foundation’s LGBTQ Community Fund. Dozens of local LGBTQ advocates have served on the Fund Committee to annually make grants that improve quality of life for LGBTQ residents in Greater Miami, and strengthen organizations seeking to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ people

SUSTAINING SUPPORT FOR GREATER MIAMI’S LGBTQ COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19

July 20, 2020

A HISTORIC YEAR FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS, NEW FOCUS ON INCLUSION

June 25, 2020

MUJER: SERVING SOUTH DADE RESIDENTS IN THE PANDEMIC

June 25, 2020

Something is rotten in our midst and we need to name it, clear it out, and allow our communities to heal. Video evidence of system-level racism has virally accosted us in rapid succession. Before we have enough time to grieve from the last incident, another one unfolds.

TOGETHER, LET’S TAKE ACTION – THE RACIAL EQUITY FUND

June 8, 2020

FROM OUR CEO: CONFRONT THE TOXIC VIRUS OF INEQUALITY

June 1, 2020

#OURMIAMI CONVERSATIONS: FOOD ACCESS IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS

May 15, 2020

#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity taking place on May 5, 2020. It's an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day will create a wave of charitable giving, generosity, volunteer engagement, and civic action to support communities and nonprofits around the world.

WEBINAR: #GIVINGTUESDAYNOW – MAKING THE ASK IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

April 27, 2020

After an eight-month national search, The Miami Foundation Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Rebecca Fishman Lipsey as president and CEO. Here, Rebecca shares what’s on her mind as she becomes the fourth president of the $350 million+ community foundation serving Greater Miami. She will assume the role June 1, 2020.

OUR MOMENT: THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

April 14, 2020

HOW DID YOU GET HERE? WHY DO YOU STAY? WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

March 17, 2020

LEAD ENGINEER AND NONPROFIT FOUNDER NAMED “EMERGING PHILANTHROPIST” OF THE YEAR

March 17, 2020

HOW KNOCKING ON DOORS IS SAVING MIAMI-DADE WOMEN’S LIVES

February 17, 2020

UNIFYING A RACIALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY: LESSONS SHARED AT 2020 STATE OF BLACK PHILANTHROPY

February 13, 2020

With Census 2020 forms hitting most homes across the country mid-March, organizations in Miami-Dade County have stepped up their outreach efforts. Since last October, the 29 local nonprofits that received $475,000 in grants from the Miami-Dade Counts 2020 funder collaborative have worked at the grassroots level to ensure everyone, especially undercounted groups in Miami like Hispanics, communities of color and with children under five years old, are counted in the census.

MIAMI-DADE NONPROFITS LEAD THE WAY FOR CENSUS 2020 OUTREACH

February 10, 2020

At Stephanie Perez-Julio’s wedding, guests were all smiles during the brightly colored outdoor ceremony, especially Ana María’s. Stephanie first met her while teaching art at The WOW Center, a Give Miami Day participating nonprofit that serves more than 200 adults with developmental disabilities from across Miami-Dade County.

NEW INCLUSION FUND EXPANDS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL MIAMIANS

January 27, 2020

I had a rough start at adulthood, but trial and error and the power of self-perseverance ultimately saved me.

CAP, INC. SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: “COLLEGE WAS MY ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE.”

January 23, 2020

WHERE TO CELEBRATE GIVE MIAMI DAY AROUND TOWN

November 18, 2019

A thriving arts community makes Greater Miami a vibrant, connected and culturally engaging place to live. Earlier this year, The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation established the Pérez CreARTE Grants Program to fund high-performing arts and culture organizations in Miami-Dade and help them scale their impact.

PÉREZ FAMILY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION IN INAUGURAL CreARTE GRANTS FOR THE ARTS

November 12, 2019

HOW A NEEDLE EXCHANGE IS SAVING LIVES IN MIAMI-DADE

October 17, 2019

LYFT PARTNERS WITH MIAMI ARTS NONPROFIT TO PROMOTE SAFE SCOOTING

October 14, 2019

Over the past seven years, Give Miami Day has become one of the largest online giving days in the nation. It’s a day that celebrates all Greater Miami nonprofits. In 2018 alone, the 750 nonprofits who participated raised $11.5 million from 21,000 donors around the world.

NONPROFITS: 10 REASONS WHY TO JOIN THE GIVE MIAMI DAY MOVEMENT

October 9, 2019

CHALLENGE WINNERS BRING NEW SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILITY IN MIAMI

September 29, 2019

For me, home isn’t just where the heart is. Home is where the people with heart are. Although I didn’t know it at the time, that’s precisely the gift the Miami Fellows program gave me: a “family.”

MIAMI FELLOWS HELPED ME DISCOVER MY PURPOSE… AND FULFILL IT.

September 20, 2019

MIAMI FELLOWS TURNS 20: THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IS NOW

August 27, 2019

I had a vision for a pop-library in the park. The Public Space Challenge and my Miami Fellows experience helped make it a reality.

“A LIBRARY IN THE PARK? THE CHALLENGE HELPED ME MAKE IT HAPPEN.”

August 19, 2019

“We’re entering it in seven different film festivals,” says Fernando Bretos, the former director of marine conservation at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, about a 30-minute documentary made by nine Miami-Dade high school students.

MIAMI’S KIDS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

August 15, 2019

CHALLENGE FINALISTS AIM TO GET MIAMI-DADE MOVING

July 15, 2019

REDEMPTION: RIVERSIDE HOUSE GIVES EX-OFFENDERS A SECOND CHANCE

July 11, 2019

LOCAL FUNDERS PARTNER TO SUPPORT MIAMI-DADE CENSUS 2020 COMPLETE COUNT EFFORTS

July 8, 2019

FOUNTAINHEAD CONNECTS GLOBAL ARTISTS WITH MIAMI

June 13, 2019

HOW DO WE CREATE LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP? MEET THE MAVENS.

June 11, 2019

PÉREZ FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANTS INSPIRE MIAMI’S NEXT-GEN ARTISTS

May 31, 2019

The longer I live here (five years and counting!), the more it becomes clear that T.D. Allman was right when he wrote the aptly titled “Miami: City of the Future” in 1987.

I WANT TO HELP LEAD MIAMI, ‘CITY OF THE FUTURE’ – T.J. BLACK’S STORY

May 14, 2019

“Culture is what drives communities, and it’s how communities are remembered,” says Dennis Scholl, seen at the center of the photo. “When you think of the Greeks and Romans from thousands of years ago, you don’t think of their businesses, you think of their culture.”

AT OOLITE ARTS, MIAMI ARTISTS FIND A SPACE TO CREATE

May 13, 2019

JORGE AND DARLENE PÉREZ ON THE FAMILY’S NEW $1 MILLION ARTS PROGRAM

May 12, 2019

CARLESS IN MIAMI? IT’S POSSIBLE, AND THE CHALLENGE CAN HELP

May 10, 2019

THE CHALLENGE IS BACK! HELP IMPROVE THE WAY MIAMI MOVES

April 18, 2019

Chad Bernstein holding guitar with Guitars Over Guns students

GUITARS OVER GUNS’ CHAD BERNSTEIN RECEIVES 2019 RUTH SHACK AWARD

April 8, 2019

My Miami Story conversation at Johnson & Wales University

MY MIAMI STORY CONVERSATIONS ARE WORKING … HERE’S HOW

March 25, 2019

NONPROFITS, HERE’S HOW YOU CAN TAKE A POLITICAL STANCE

March 18, 2019

GIRL SCOUTS CEO: WHY INVESTING IN STEM MATTERS

March 15, 2019

HONORING MARLON A. HILL: A CIVIC CHAMPION FOR PHILANTHROPY

March 13, 2019

WHAT MIAMI LEARNED FROM DETROIT AT THE 2019 STATE OF BLACK PHILANTHROPY

February 14, 2019

Nonprofits step up to help furloughed workers in 2019.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: MIAMI’S NONPROFITS STRUGGLE TO RECOVER

February 12, 2019

Kara Zeder Rosen, 2019 Emerging Philanthropist Award honoree

EMERGING PHILANTHROPISTS: YOUNG MIAMIANS TO WATCH

February 8, 2019

SOUTH FLORIDA NONPROFITS AND VOLUNTEERS STEP UP FOR PARKS DURING SHUTDOWN

January 22, 2019

Bob and Dede Moss love Miami. As New Yorkers, when they found themselves looking for a second home they picked Miami. Nearly two decades later, the two continue to find inspiration in the place they call home and invest in the city’s growing arts scene to help others feel as welcome here as they did. More recently, as longtime supporters of the arts, Bob and Dede established a the Fund for New Ventures at The Miami Foundation that will provide New World Symphony with artistic risk capital for innovative, new programs.We sat down for a chat with Bob about why he and Dede chose to live in Miami, the causes they care about and the unique way they’ve chosen to champion homegrown creativity.

WHY THIS COUPLE IS INVESTING ARTISTIC RISK CAPITAL IN THE NEW WORLD SYMPHONY

January 17, 2019

Founded in 2014, The SEED School Miami is the only public, college preparatory boarding school in South Florida. Their mission is a seemingly simple one: provide a rigorous education that empowers students to be academically and socially successful in college and life. Beyond the rigorous academics, what helps students bloom is SEED’s Sparks program, says Tiffany Graver-Smith, director of development for The SEED School and a 2018-2019 Miami Leader. We chatted with Tiffany and visited the school to learn what makes SEED different and how they ignite a passion for learning, inside and outside the classroom.

IGNITING A PASSION FOR LEARNING: INSIDE SOUTH FLORIDA’S ONLY PUBLIC BOARDING SCHOOL

January 15, 2019

I was born in Little Haiti and raised in North Miami. I attended nearby Catholic schools, including St. Mary’s, St. James and Archbishop Curley Notre Dame. And while I currently work for the city of North Miami, when I made the decision to purchase a home in 2017, one place came to mind – Miami Gardens. Some asked, “Why?” I asked, “Why not?”

HOW THE FELLOWS TAUGHT ME TO BUILD COMMUNITY IN MIAMI GARDENS

December 11, 2018

I am a son of Miami—the good, the bad and the loud. Miami is and will always be home. This city holds the stories of family histories filled with struggle and eventual success. Having been raised in a Cuban-American household, family and faith are central pillars in my life. I have witnessed firsthand the pain of exile, the importance of a quality education, and the rewards of hard work and determination.

HERE’S YOUR CHALLENGE, MIAMI – RAUL MOAS’ STORY

December 10, 2018

YOU VOTED ON NOVEMBER 6TH … NOW WHAT?

November 14, 2018

GIVE MIAMI DAY DONORS HELP LOCAL KIDS REUNITE WITH FATHERS IN PRISON

November 14, 2018

WHY A MY MIAMI STORY SURVEY, AND WAYS TO ADD YOUR VOICE

October 23, 2018

BREAKING DOWN THE BALLOT: A LOOK AT THE MIAMI-DADE REFERENDUMS

October 18, 2018

WHY I’M HOSTING A MY MIAMI STORY CONVERSATION – AND YOU CAN, TOO!

October 16, 2018

I measure time through dance. One of the best memories I have of my mom is standing on the tops of her feet as she danced in the living room. After she passed away, I would stand in the middle of the living room, close my eyes and try to recreate our waltz. Everything I knew about dance came from her.I used to think dance should be kept in a studio or on stage – places where people were prepared for dance, as if dance required a setting. My 13-year-old self agreed with that when my dad and I were to scatter his father’s ashes in the lake behind our house. After minutes of silence, standing there, my dad turned to me and said, “Give us a little soft shoe, son.” There I stood, holding my grandpa Lou’s ashes in a cardboard box and, appalled but obedient, I tapped out Tea for Two in a pair of clogs. I felt highly inappropriate, believing the ceremony required more solemnity. I noticed for the first time since dancing atop my mom’s feet, though, just how cathartic dancing was for me. The tapping out of the rhythms brought me back to my best memories of her, and suddenly, this was not so much about duty or estrangement as it was about celebrating life.

USING DANCE TO CREATE A STAGE FOR EQUALITY

October 11, 2018

A few months ago, I walked around North Miami with my oldest brother and his family. He and his wife and two daughters had just moved back to South Florida after living in California for the last eight years. While we got reacquainted with their neighborhood, we noticed there really weren’t too many places outdoors for all of us to sit down and catch up. So, I’m looking forward to when a Public Space Challenge idea to transform an alleyway in downtown North Miami into a safe, pedestrian-friendly gathering spot away from the busy street comes online.

CHALLENGE WINNER CREATES AN ALLEYWAY YOU’LL WANT TO WALK DOWN

October 3, 2018

Last hurricane season challenged this community in ways we hadn’t seen in decades – and not just during the storms. The aftermath was equally trying as the region faced an uncertain path toward long-term recovery. Yet, in the midst of such devastation, we saw inspiring signs of hope as people from all walks and regions stepped up, eager to take care of one another. More than 11,000 individuals, corporations and foundations from around the world helped us raise $6.4 million for relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts throughout Greater Miami, Florida Keys and the Caribbean islands. Dollars fueled nonprofits' efforts to distribute food and supplies, repair roofs and build resilience hubs. Now, in the midst of another active hurricane season and with our thoughts on our neighbors in the Carolinas, we reflect on the people who stepped up and collaborative efforts formed that continue to motivate and inspire.

HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA: THE DONORS AND NONPROFITS REBUILDING FOR RESILIENCE

September 21, 2018

My Miami Story conversations are about creating a space for Miamians to link up, share their stories about life here and spark ideas to improve the place we call home. Over the past two years, thousands of residents have joined in and some have taken action on issues they care about. On October 23rd, this community is doing it again. Everyone’s invited and anyone can host.

FIVE STEPS TO HOST YOUR MY MIAMI STORY CONVERSATION

September 20, 2018

BREAKING DOWN THE BALLOT: FLORIDA’S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

September 17, 2018

BUILDING A RESILIENT MIAMI: ARMANDO CODINA’S STORY

September 13, 2018

All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response Volunteers

ONE YEAR LATER: GRANTMAKING LESSONS LEARNED FROM HURRICANE IRMA

September 10, 2018

CHALLENGE WINNERS TEAM UP ON COOL HAPPENINGS IN WEST KENDALL

September 6, 2018

HOW DONORS IN MIAMI SHOW THEIR “UBUNTU”

August 20, 2018

PUERTO RICO’S STUDENTS FLED IN HURRICANE’S WAKE, MIAMI WELCOMED THEM

August 17, 2018

For me, books open up a whole world of creativity, imagination and learning. I can be in my room reading and the next thing I know, I’m on Mars eating S’mores with aliens. So, when I was visiting the Bahamas with my parents and I learned that the town we were in didn’t have any libraries, I wanted to change that for the kids who lived there. But I wasn’t sure how. Then, one day, when we were in the car driving on the expressway in Miami, I saw a small lawn trailer and I thought, “I can convert that into my library!” I wanted something that was easy and portable.With my parents’ help, I purchased a lawn trailer. I asked a local artist to decorate it, and he did. I asked for books, and they were donated. And that’s how we turned the trailer into a mini-library where kids could grow, learn and be creative.

“IF I CAN CREATE LIBRARIES, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING AMAZING, TOO!”

August 16, 2018

How’d you get to Miami? What keeps you here? What do you care about in our community? What can we do to improve it? Simple questions that give a window into your life in Miami-Dade and connection to this place we call home. Every one of our 2.7 million residents has a Miami story. When we come together and share them with each other, a unified narrative emerges about our true experiences and what matters to us. That’s what My Miami Story conversations are all about. They help us go beyond the facts and figures about Greater Miami – like employment rates and funding for public schools – to reveal what everyday life is like for local residents. These small gatherings hosted over lunches, dinners and cafecito breaks help us connect to each other, spark ideas and think about what we all can do to make this community better.

MY MIAMI STORY: MUCH MORE THAN A CONVERSATION

August 15, 2018

Dawn Shirreffs and Jordan De Leon discuss election ballott

NOT JUST A “PRIMARY:” WHY AUG. 28TH MATTERS TO MIAMI VOTERS

August 13, 2018

THE MILLENNIAL WAY OF PHILANTHROPY: WHAT ADVISORS NEED TO KNOW

July 30, 2018

YOUTH REBUILD HURRICANE-HIT U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, ONE HOUSE AT A TIME

July 12, 2018

MIAMI FELLOW ON THE KEY TO HAPPINESS: FIND YOUR ‘WHY’

July 10, 2018

FIVE OPEN SPACES IN MIAMI THAT STIR THE SOUL

July 6, 2018

LESSONS FROM HURRICANE IRMA: GETTING FOOD TO MIAMIANS WHO NEED IT MOST, POST STORM

June 27, 2018

Miami Senior High School 2018 Graduation

HONORING MY GRANDFATHER’S LEGACY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS

June 27, 2018

Public Space Challenge finalist ideas for Miami-Dade's parks

CHALLENGE FINALISTS WILL CONNECT MIAMIANS, ONE PUBLIC SPACE AT A TIME

June 26, 2018

MEET FOUR NONPROFITS EQUIPPING MIAMIANS TO USE THEIR VOICE

June 7, 2018

PUERTO RICO, STILL IN HURRICANE RECOVERY, FOCUSES ON RESILIENCE

May 16, 2018

Ana Mari Ortega Wins Emerging Philanthropist Award

CITY YEAR MIAMI CHAIR NAMED “EMERGING PHILANTHROPIST” OF THE YEAR

May 15, 2018

HONORING A CHAMPION FOR SUSTAINABLE GIVING

May 11, 2018

WLRN’S NADEGE GREEN LIFTS MIAMI’S UNHEARD VOICES

May 1, 2018

THE MARCH OF OUR LIVES: #NEVERAGAIN

April 15, 2018

MEET THE COUPLE KEEPING MIAMI’S BEACHES CLEAN

April 13, 2018

Reach for the Stars Scholarship Recipients

REACH FOR THE STARS SCHOLARSHIP TURNS TRAGEDY INTO TRANSFORMATION

April 12, 2018

The families of East Little Havana in Miami weren’t comfortable using their local space: 81 percent of respondents in a February 2016 neighborhood survey said that safety concerns held them back from going to Riverside Park. “Delincuencia” was the word many Spanish-speaking parents used to describe the area, indicating that they wouldn’t want to expose their children to the activity in the park.

PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE WINNER RECLAIMS LITTLE HAVANA PARK FOR FAMILIES

April 11, 2018

FIVE EASY WAYS TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY IN MIAMI

April 9, 2018

YOUR CHALLENGE: ONE SIMPLE IDEA TO TRANSFORM A PUBLIC SPACE

April 4, 2018

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) represents the most sweeping changes to the Internal Revenue Tax Code in more than 30 years. The new law provides opportunities for professional advisors to discuss philanthropy strategies with clients who are considering corporate and individual tax reductions, which generally have reduced the monetary benefit of charitable contributions. Charitable giving will remain a key component of taxpayers’ financial plans and they will want a way to leverage the knowledge of their professional advisors to help them plan gifts for maximum impact.

CHARITABLE GIVING AND TAX REFORM: TIPS FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS

March 28, 2018

When I reflect on all the recent events that have transpired in our communities, our schools, and our world, I think about the environments and the culture in which we live, learn, work and play. I believe that we should, strategically, think about all the places where we can become more effective in changing cultures: in homes, schools and community-based organizations. We need to institute cultures where we can foster and measure connectedness, where we build caring attitudes, positive behaviors, mutual respect, acceptance and empathy for others into the standards of how we operate.

BEYOND GUN CONTROL: CREATE A CULTURE OF CARE

March 19, 2018

As a second-generation Miamian, born in Coconut Grove to a family of “givers,” I learned the importance of helping a community thrive. My grandmother, Areta Kaufman, who moved here from Ohio at a young age, was well-known in Miami social circles for serving on the boards of numerous organizations, such as Miami City Ballet and Project HOPE, and owning “Gallery Areta” on Miami Beach. She inspired me to not only get involved in local organizations, but also act as a driving force of change in the community at large. Starting the 100+ Women Who Care, Miami-Dade Chapter (100WWC) was my way of doing that.

MIAMI WOMEN’S GIVING CIRCLE RAISES BIG DOLLARS FOR LOCAL CAUSES

March 16, 2018

I am a woman. I am an immigrant. I am Hispanic … born and raised in Mexico. I am a proud mother of two and, for the past 10 years, an entrepreneur. All of these titles together would make my success story a statistical anomaly for any woman in 2018. It took me seven years to receive a paycheck from my business, Half Moon Empanadas. More than 10 banks declined to finance our outpost at Miami International Airport. After a couple of evictions and the word “no” became a constant. I responded the only way I knew how: I worked hard, I dreamed high and I never hesitated to ask for what I needed. I reached out and found some doors that opened. I am pleased to say that Half Moon now has 10 locations in South Florida and, in 2017, our airport location was the best seller per square foot. More importantly, we offer employment to more than 50 people, 70 percent of whom are women.

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: OWN YOUR SUCCESS!

March 12, 2018

MIAMI: BUILT TO BEAT THE ODDS

March 5, 2018

INVESTING IN BLACK MIAMI’S LEGACY: KEITH WARD’S STORY

February 23, 2018

I first heard of LEAP while incarcerated at Hernando Correctional Institution. They came to recruit new people for their program, and though I wasn’t selected at first, that didn’t stop me. I went straight to the higher-ups and to the assistant warden to get a reason. This warden didn’t tolerate inmates approaching her, but I had to get her to understand that I needed this program.I made my pitch, and I got on the LEAP transfer list. In fact, I was the only person from Hernando that was chosen for the program. I transferred to Homestead Correctional Institution where the LEAP program is held. On my first day, I met our main teacher, Ms. Johnson. She instilled in us a sense of belonging, trust and family. My favorite course was “Thinking for a Change,” which taught us to think before reacting in difficult situations, and that we shouldn’t let our past define us. Thanks to her, we came to see ourselves as people rather than the number assigned to us by the prison. We were human beings.

WITH LEAP, I FOUND NEW LIFE AFTER PRISON

February 15, 2018

I’ve lived in Miami for almost 25 years, and it wasn’t until I found a sense of community that I discovered not only myself but also my city.

MJ CASTELLS: I WENT SEARCHING FOR COMMUNITY, AND DISCOVERED MYSELF

February 6, 2018

MIAMI STRONG: WHY MY FAMILY GIVES TO COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

January 16, 2018

MY MIAMI STORY: A CONVERSATION WITH INMATES

December 14, 2017

Miami.We live in “Mi ami”Not “Mi amigo” or “Mon ami.” But “Mi ami.”About a month ago, I found myself sitting in Carl Juste’s studio in Little Haiti. I was there on a walking tour of the neighborhood to plan an upcoming community-based project. Carl, who captures Miami’s stories as a photographer for the Miami Herald, explained how our city’s name is the representation of us at our best.

MIAMI FELLOWS REDEFINE OUR CITY AS “MI AMI”

November 7, 2017

Editor’s Note: This blog post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Miami Herald.On Tuesday, October 17th, this community made history as more than 3,000 Miamians gathered at hundreds of My Miami Story conversations across the county. Small and large groups of residents came together in homes, schools, restaurants, nonprofits and parks for the biggest community conversation ever in Miami-Dade County. The Miami Foundation, inspired by The Chicago Community Trust’s On the Table program, convened the initiative as part of their 50th anniversary push for residents to share their Miami stories: how you came to this community, why you stay here, what you value about it and how we can all invest in making Greater Miami a better place to live. With support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the conversations will be captured in a participant survey and analyzed by the University of Illinois at Chicago, providing a better understanding of local resident experiences and informing more effective solutions to critical community issues.

MY MIAMI STORY CONVERSATIONS 2017: WHAT WE LEARNED

October 30, 2017

After 35 years of serving Miami-Dade County’s LGBTQ youth, Pridelines Youth Services is now Pridelines, Miami’s LGBTQ Community Center. In June 2016, Pridelines moved to a 9,000-square-foot community center, a facility large enough to house programs and services for Greater Miami’s LGBTQ youth, older adults, people living with HIV/AIDS, and their allies. The new space allowed us to expand our services and reach more residents. Eleven days after the move, the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando rocked the LGBTQ community. More than 150 people walked through Pridelines’ doors the next day in search of a safe place to gather, grieve, and find healing and support. LGBTQ community members and allies met with grief counselors, participated in an interfaith service and held a candlelight vigil. They held a town hall where they talked about solutions for reclaiming the sense of safety they had lost. Today, the center, supported by a GLBT Community Projects Fund grant, stands as a place of hope for people looking to find a connection to their community. For some, especially youth, it’s the only place where they can simply be themselves.

PRIDELINES: A SAFE SPACE FOR MIAMI’S LGBTQ COMMUNITY

October 24, 2017

We live in a time when we feel inundated by crises, whether the week brings news of another cyber-attack, international threat or hurricane. But not every disruption has to become a disaster, says Dr. Judith Rodin, author of “The Resilience Dividend.” We can learn to bend, not break, by building a more resilient city.

Dr. Judith Rodin: How Miami Can Be a More Resilient Community

October 17, 2017

MY MIAMI STORY HOSTS: WHY WE SIGNED UP – AND YOU CAN, TOO!

October 14, 2017

I told everyone to meet us at the Community Emergency Operations Center at EcoTech. We scraped up what we could and went to the stores. We went to Publix for supplies and a local meat store. We got some hot dogs and a few bags of charcoal and I took the small grill from my house. We went into Liberty City and we started grilling and feeding people.When we first got there, people were crying because they hadn’t eaten since before the storm, some for two to three days. Grown people were crying. Kids saw us coming and they ran up to us. They were happy to see us. They were blown away that we were giving away free food. We gave out hot dogs, chips and bottles of water, and then we went to Little Haiti and did the same. We set up on a corner and volunteers walked down the streets. For those who couldn’t walk up to us, we brought them food. There were elderly people who were too weak to get out of bed or even feed themselves, and volunteers fed them.

FEEDING A VILLAGE AFTER IRMA: VALENCIA GUNDER’S MIAMI STORY

September 28, 2017

In Greater Miami, we are surrounded by water, and yet there are so few ways to access the bay. That’s why I was excited a few years ago when a friend told me about his favorite spot in Coconut Grove, close to where I live. At the end of tree-lined Royal Road is a small piece of land that’s vacant without much to it, except for the fact that it’s a rare public space where you can take in views of Biscayne Bay. The first time I went looking for it, I biked over and down the “big hill” that’s there with my fishing pole to escape the city for a bit. I didn’t catch a thing, but it didn’t matter – I’d found a new little gem where I could take in Greater Miami’s outdoor beauty. Flash forward to this spring, I was thrilled to see a Public Space Challenge idea that wanted to transform the empty plot of land into a neighborhood mini park so that everyone can enjoy the view with greenery and seating instead of the dirt and litter that’s there now.

PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE UNCOVERS MIAMI’S HIDDEN GEMS

August 29, 2017

People play, eat, sleep, go to school in all different parts of Miami-Dade County so what does it mean when people say they’re “from Miami?” And what do issues like homelessness, transit options and equity look and feel like in each place? A professor and Changemaker Faculty Fellow at Florida International University, Malik Benjamin is on a mission to get Miamians more engaged in issues like these. As part of that effort, Malik asked his FIU students to participate in The Miami Foundation’s My Miami Story conversations project last fall.

MY MIAMI STORY CONVERSATIONS: WHAT WE LEARNED LAST YEAR

August 28, 2017

EMPOWERING MIAMI’S COMMUNITIES MOST VULNERABLE TO SEA LEVEL RISE

August 15, 2017

Social Innovator, Policy Maker, Changemaker: Rebecca Fishman Lipsey’s Story

August 14, 2017

As The Miami Foundation gears up for the next Miami Fellows class, I can’t help but chuckle at the stream of memories from my circa-2016 vantage point. At the time, I was filled with doubt about applying: what if the program wasn’t right for me? What if I didn’t make the cut? What if I became too overwhelmed with work to give it my all? Now, having just completed the program, I’m quick to share the application link and chat with anyone that’s interested. My mantra: “If you have a deep love for the 305, apply.”

MIAMI FELLOWS: “IF YOU HAVE A DEEP LOVE FOR THE 305, APPLY”

August 11, 2017

CULTRA, a light-hearted jab at everyone’s favorite downtown Miami electronic music festival, came about in collaboration with Emerge Miami, a group of young Miamians dedicated to empowering citizen-led projects. Our goal was to bring new audiences to our world-class green spaces on the bay and, in doing so, provide a platform for local artists while demonstrating a non-traditional use of the parks. These big, beautiful green spaces beg for activity and not just frisbee tossing and soccer games. They are downtown Miami’s front yard – our front yard – and full of potential. From January to May, CULTRA brought a roving, outdoor open mic to a different park on the third-Thursday of each month. Dozens of local musicians, spoken word artists, acrobats, theatrical groups and comedians performed during the series run.

HOW ONE CHALLENGE WINNER CREATED MIAMI’S FIRST ROVING, OPEN MIC

August 9, 2017

It only took Ruth Shack and her husband, Richard, one week to fall in love with the magic of Miami. While honeymooning in Miami Beach, they knew their planned two-week vacation had led them to the spot where they would start their lives together. Six decades later, Ruth’s legacy continues to reverberate.

RUTH SHACK: WHY WE NEED THE MIAMI FELLOWS

August 7, 2017

Anyone who’s driven in Miami knows that the transit woes run deep. Currently, more than half of those who drive to work, for example, spend at least 30 minutes commuting, which is higher than the U.S. average and comparable metros like San Diego and Houston. Fortunately, projects, such as the county’s S.M.A.R.T. Plan, are underway to make transportation alternatives more accessible. Large scale projects likes these, however, can take years and immense resources to make happen.

“QUICK-BUILD” PROGRAM TO CREATE BETTER STREETS

July 24, 2017

My Miami story is that of a young kid from Kingston, Jamaica who tries to find his way, understand a new culture, and eventually settle in to find a purpose. It is one about assimilating, acclimating and integrating into the new community –and making a contribution that is exponential.After returning to Miami from law school at Florida State University, I knew that I wanted to continue working with students of immigrant descent, especially those from the Caribbean. I was looking for ways to get more deeply connected with the community, and I heard about an emerging leadership program called the Miami Fellows at The Miami Foundation.

Immigrant, Miami Fellow, Civic Leader: My Story

July 17, 2017

“Why I’ll Live in Miami Forever”

July 14, 2017

Miami is at an inflection point.With more than 5.8 million residents and an economic output of more than $300 billion, our regional economy is one of the largest in the world. We now number among the world’s 25 most important cities. We have diversified our economy and become more creative and idea-based. But our region is also suffering from the same divides that are vexing other big cities around the world.The gap between rich and poor has widened and the ability of residents to achieve the American Dream has declined. As highlighted in the Our Miami Report, access to quality education is critical for preparing our children and young adults to be successful contributors to society and, in turn, is integral for our region’s prosperity and growth.

We Should Make Education Access a Priority for Greater Miami

June 13, 2017

At The Miami Foundation, and specifically in my role, we get a bird’s eye view of the hundreds of nonprofits on the ground every day, making sure everyone who lives here as access to resources they need to thrive. This helps shape a unique perspective of how each nonprofit serves as a vital piece of a greater puzzle. It allows us to see what’s working, where opportunities for improvement exist and how people are coming together to make this work happen.

COMMUNITY GRANTS DRIVE 50 YEARS OF NONPROFIT INNOVATION

June 9, 2017

For Coleman public housing residents Annie St. Juste and Lanston Williams, the street is the key public space in front of their homes in Liberty City. Neighborhood kids play outside, walk home from nearby Charles Drew Elementary and take advantage of the outdoor basketball courts and playground. Then at night, everything goes pitch black and it becomes unsafe. Annie and Lanston propose that simply adding streetlights will unlock their neighborhood’s front porch as a safe, accessible community gathering place into the early evening and night.

CHALLENGE FINALISTS WANT TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF MIAMI’S PARKS

May 31, 2017

GRANT PROGRAM HELPS MIAMI NONPROFIT LEADERS DEVELOP

May 23, 2017

Tarell Alvin McCraney is a native son of Miami. He’s an artist, a creator and an advocate for the city we all love. The award-winning playwright shared his Miami story with us: the journey from stage to screen, the “spirit of generosity” that got him there and coming home to make sure students today have the same opportunities he did.

TARELL ALVIN MCCRANEY: HOW HE GOT FROM MIAMI TO “MOONLIGHT”

May 10, 2017

AN ACCOMPLISHED MIAMI LEADER TAKES A ROLE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE

May 5, 2017

Nothing reveals more about you than your story – the sum total of past experiences that shape who you are and what you care about. My story is one defined by a love for Miami. I was born and raised in the Upper Eastside (yes, we natives DO exist), and can still remember the shock every time I came home throughout college. A blighted rail yard was all of a sudden Midtown Miami; Jazz in the Gardens went from an annual neighborhood concert to one of the top music festivals in the country; Brickell had more condos than office towers. My city evolved, and after graduation, I got excited about being a part of this new Miami.

A MIAMI GUY’S CASE FOR CONNECTING THE CITY

May 3, 2017

As a real estate lawyer whose practice focuses on representing developers of affordable housing, I care deeply about ensuring that children of residents of such housing have access to higher education. Working in this field, I have seen firsthand how cost-burdened families are affected in their daily lives. Many of the families living in low-income housing cannot afford to send their children to college...

WHY I CHOOSE TO “GIVE KIDS A CHANCE”

May 1, 2017

HONORING A CHAMPION FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS

April 29, 2017

RUTH SHACK HONOREE BUILDS A HUB OF MIAMI CHANGEMAKERS

April 13, 2017

The second annual State of Black Philanthropy conversation defied the notion that philanthropy is exclusively tied to monetary contributions. Rather, much like the Greek etymology of the word (i.e., love of humankind), we exposed a more rich dialogue of philanthropy as an expression of love best demonstrated through intentional acts designed to promote the welfare of black communities.

THE STATE OF BLACK PHILANTHROPY IN GREATER MIAMI

April 7, 2017

“I AM AT PEACE KNOWING MY LEGACY WILL OUTLIVE ME AND HELP OTHERS FOREVER”

April 5, 2017

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination,” Henry David Thoreau wrote, and Public Space Challenge winners have taken him at his word. Where you see an outdoor fountain, they create a roller skating rink. Where you see a busy thoroughfare, they build a pop-up plaza and hold 20 days of events from a puppy brunch to tango lessons.

VACANT SPACES COME TO LIFE WITH PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE

March 27, 2017

You don’t have to work as an urban planner to know about designing parks and public spaces. The best ideas often come from the residents who use these community spaces every day. They are community organizers, students and artists like Ileana Collazo, who wanted to bring art outdoors to her Little Havana neighborhood. She applied to The Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge to make it happen.

THE CHALLENGE IS FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU (YES, YOU!)

March 16, 2017

Dr. Fredric Brandt was a pioneering dermatologist who battled depression later in life. After his tragic death, Dr. Brandt’s colleagues established the Dr. Brandt Foundation with us to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health. The foundation recently announced the first Fredric Brandt, M.D. Endowed Professorship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Stephane Colleu, president and CEO of Dr. Brandt Skincare, caught us up on the foundation’s efforts, plans for the future and ways to support their work.

SKINCARE LEGEND’S WORK LIVES ON AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

March 14, 2017

As I was biking home from work last week along The Underline, one of Greater Miami’s game-changing public space projects, cars stopped at a crosswalk to let me and some people walking cross a busy street in Brickell. Cars slowed to patiently wait, but one driver sped up, cut through the other cars and...

OUR CHALLENGE: PARKS EVERY MIAMIAN CAN WALK TO

March 7, 2017

EVERY MIAMIAN HAS A STORY — WE WANT TO HEAR THEM

February 3, 2017

Miami has been built by people who are filled with courage and a sense of optimism. Most of us came here from somewhere else. Some from other parts of the country; others who emigrated here from other parts of the world. And I submit to you that there are few things more courageous than leaving the place you call home to start anew somewhere else, particularly when there are cultural and language barriers to overcome in doing so...

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION AT 50: ESTABLISHING THE LEGACIES OF GREAT MIAMIANS

January 28, 2017

After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in business, Lila Dickerson launched a career in real estate investment while also cultivating a deep respect for the environment around her. Long before topics like sea-level rise were on Greater Miami’s radar, Lila believed it was important to...

DONORS TACKLE BIG ISSUES FOREVER WITH COMMUNITY GRANTS

January 26, 2017

RUTH SHACK AWARDEES CREATE A LEGACY OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP

January 26, 2017

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY: HOW CAN WE ENSURE THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE TAKEN CARE OF?

January 24, 2017

DEVELOPING MY LEADERSHIP STORY IN THE MIDST OF SOCIAL CHANGE

January 16, 2017

We approached local leaders working on civic issues to provide additional context to the data, trends and stories behind the 2016 Our Miami Report. Here, Tom Hudson, host of “The Sunshine Economy” on WLRN Radio and VP of News at WLRN Public Media, weighs in on the economy.

ECONOMY: MORE JOBS ARE BEING CREATED, BUT ARE THEY THE RIGHT ONES?

December 12, 2016

One of the transportation goals identified in the Our Miami Report is for Miami-Dade residents to have access to more public transit options. Miami Fellows Rebecca Fishman Lipsey and Marta Viciedo will launch Miami’s first-ever Public Transit Day to help spark a movement and conversation to do just that.

GET ON BOARD WITH MIAMI’S FIRST-EVER PUBLIC TRANSIT DAY ON DEC. 9TH

December 5, 2016

150+ CONVERSATIONS AND ONE THEME: HOW CAN GREATER MIAMI COME TOGETHER?

November 14, 2016

WHY GIVE MIAMI DAY? INSIDERS SHARE WHY THEY GIVE

November 9, 2016

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: IT’S TIME TO CHANGE OUR STORY

October 31, 2016

You and every Miamian has a story … how you got here, why you stay here, and what you want for the future. Life in Greater Miami is captured in these stories of the 2.6 million people who call this place home.

WHAT’S YOUR MIAMI STORY? SHARE ON OCTOBER 18

September 29, 2016

MIAMI GETS THEIR GROOVE ON WITH CHALLENGE-WINNING DANCE PARTY

August 31, 2016

PROVIDING A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY’S MOST VULNERABLE

August 25, 2016

HOW A 2015 PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE WINNER USED DISC GOLF TO CONNECT HOMESTEAD RESIDENTS

August 2, 2016

FOUNDATION CEO DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM NORTH MIAMI MAYOR AFTER RECENT POLICE SHOOTING

July 22, 2016

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF MIAMI-DADE’S AGING LGBT COMMUNITY

July 20, 2016

MIAMI YOUTH COLLECT THOUSANDS OF HANDWRITTEN NOTES FOR ORLANDO VICTIMS AND LOVED ONES

July 12, 2016

MAKING MIAMI A HUB FOR SOCIAL CHANGEMAKERS

June 29, 2016

HOW COMMUNITY GRANTS EXPAND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY

June 10, 2016

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED! MIAMIANS REIMAGINE PARKS, NEIGHBORHOODS IN 2016 PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE

June 2, 2016

IT’S TIME TO RETURN CALLE OCHO BACK TO A NEIGHBORHOOD MAIN STREET

May 27, 2016

CREATING ACCESS TO EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: THE ORTEGA FAMILY FOUNDATION

May 5, 2016

A ‘NEW POWER’ EMERGES IN GREATER MIAMI

May 5, 2016

HOW RIDESHARING PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS

May 3, 2016

SMALL STEPS LEAD TO BIG CHANGES FOR THE LUDLAM TRAIL

April 18, 2016

FROM THE GROUND UP: TRANSFORMING MIAMI’S SKYLINE INTO AN INTERACTIVE PUBLIC SPACE

April 6, 2016

THREE STEPS TO LAUNCHING SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SPACE PROJECTS

March 25, 2016

OUR CHALLENGE: MAKE MORE MIAMI SPACES

March 15, 2016

WHAT WE LEARNED AT THE 2016 STATE OF BLACK PHILANTHROPY

March 10, 2016

WHAT WE LEARNED AT THE 2016 STATE OF BLACK PHILANTHROPY

March 10, 2016

HIALEAH SITS DOWN, CHEWS OVER THE FUTURE AT FOODSPARK MIAMI

March 9, 2016

As The Miami Foundation gears up for Give Miami Day 2015, we want every nonprofit equipped with the tools for success. Last year, more than 13,000 donors supported 520 nonprofit organizations, raising $5.2 million in the biggest annual giving event in South Florida history. We’re anticipating an even more exciting event this year, so here are the three essential things your organization should know for a successful Give Miami Day campaign:

THREE THINGS EVERY NONPROFIT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT GIVE MIAMI DAY 2015

September 30, 2015

CHALLENGE WINNERS PUSH PERMANENT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SPACES

August 20, 2015

BUDGETS HIGHLIGHT TIPPING POINT FOR PARKS IN GREATER MIAMI

July 9, 2015

Historically, our role has been to advance the charitable passions of local philanthropists. That remains at the core of what we do. Over the past 48 years, more than 100 donors have created permanently endowed Funds with The Miami Foundation to support the civic issues that mattered to them, forever. Their generosity enables us to invest $1.2 million annually in more than 70 selected nonprofit organizations through our signature Community Grants program.

COMMUNITY GRANTS RECIPIENTS INCREASE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES

June 24, 2015

HOW SUSTAINABLE INVESTING PROTECTS MIAMI’S FUTURE

June 18, 2015

MIAMIANS SHOW IMAGINATION IN 2015 PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE IDEAS AND FINALISTS

April 3, 2015

NEW REPAIR STATIONS ENCOURAGE MIAMI’S #BIKE305 MOVEMENT

March 31, 2015

IN LA PALOMA, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND A CARNIVAL THIS WEEKEND

March 12, 2015

PUBLISHED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION 3.4.15 TAGGED UNDER ISSUE AREAS THIS POST IS RELATED TO: ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC SPACE THE 2015 PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

March 4, 2015

WITH YOUR IDEAS AND $305K, WE’RE FUELING A LIVELIER MIAMI

March 4, 2015

ACCELERATOR GRANTS WINNERS IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN GREATER MIAMI

March 3, 2015

MIAMI’S VERY OWN SKATE NIGHT ON THE BAY

February 20, 2015

3 NEW WAYS TO LOVE MIAMI IN FEBRUARY

February 13, 2015

HOW MIAMI GOT ITS #PHILANTHROPYSWAGGER

December 15, 2014

OUR GOAL: A $5 MILLION MIAMI MOMENT

November 19, 2014

THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY ON THE SEA: A LOOK AT MIAMI’S ENVIRONMENT

October 16, 2014

FROM EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT: MIAMI’S BIG OPPORTUNITY

October 16, 2014

ACCESSIBLE HOUSING: ONE SOLUTION TO MIAMI’S AFFORDABILITY

October 16, 2014

THE OUR MIAMI REPORT: A FOUNDATION FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION

October 16, 2014

ADVANCING MIAMI’S CIVIC CHANGE: 2014 REPORT SETS AGENDA FOR MIAMI’S FUTURE

October 16, 2014

Learn more about the latest happenings, program announcements and giving opportunities on our Foundation News. Hear inspiring stories of change and learn about community issues on our Foundation Blog.

2024 Impact at a Glance

Everyone has a role to play in creating a thriving Greater Miami. What’s your role?

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Community Member

We believe every community member’s voice is important to shape a Miami we’re proud to call home. Let us equip you with the knowledge, resources, and opportunities you need to become a community changemaker.

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Nonprofit Leader

You work every day to improve life in Greater Miami; we stand ready to support your organization through financial and capacity-building solutions.

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Eager Philanthropist

You want to make a difference in the community. We work together with you to create an effective, individualized giving platform that helps you realize your vision for impact.

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